If I Had Wings

Other Info: Commissioned by Hertfordshire Music Service with support from the John & Brenda Kitchingman Foundation.

Will Todd writes
“The chance to write for a massive group of young people singing their hearts out accompanied by a huge orchestra is about as good as it gets as a composer. The energy, the sound, the joy!
Having collaborated with fabulous and famous author Michael Rosen in the past I was delighted when he agreed to provide some words. And he had an idea....The story of Icarus flying too near the sun has fascinated people for centuries, so Michael has brought his writing brilliance to a retelling of this ancient tale in If I Had Wings. This half hour mini musical tells the story through a series of stirring and moving songs with a spoken narration connecting the scenes and providing a twist at the end of the story.... Despite the sad demise of Icarus, in this version he becomes immortalised in the retelling and the final song is full of youthful energy and hope.

If I Had Wings premiered at the Hertfordshire Schools’ Gala 2018 on Sunday 11th March at the Royal Albert Hall London.
Music by Will Todd
Words by Michael Rosen
Artistic Director and Conductor: Rufus Frowde
Narrator: Michael Rosen
Illustrator: James Mayhew
Daedalus: Peter Martin
Minos: Thomas Isherwood
Icarus: Samson Cormack-Repath (Afternoon) and Jamie Mura (Evening)

1. FlyingFlying, flying, flying, flying,Words, words, flying, flying,Words, words, flyingWords flying see a flight of words.Words flying like a flock of birds,Words breaking free out of their jail,Words woven, woven together to tell a tale.In this space we have a tale to tell.Of a king, an inventor and his son as well.In this space we have a tale to tell.Who does wrong and who does right?So listen well.Listen and choose, listen and choose,Who does wrong, all three? Or two? Or just the one?

2. The Burning SunThe burning sun, the burning sun, feel the heat of the sun.

3. The LabyrinthLabyrinth, labyrinth, labyrinth, labyrinth, labyrinth, labyrinth,labyrinth, labyrinth,Deep down and dark below the palace, deep down. Twistingand turning round and round, round and round. The walls of the passages wind and wind, the walls of the passage wind. Where no light can reach nor any sound.The Minotaur, half man, half bull, Minotaur, the Minotaur!Raging for blood and human bones, Minotaur, the Minotaur!Hear the sound of the Minotaur, the sound of the Minotaur near,Hear the sounds of sobs and cries and groans.King Minos struts about the palace. Minos. King MinosFilling his mind with plans and schemes. Minos. King MinosDown in the labyrinth, down in the labyrinth, down in the labyrinth,down in the labyrinth of dreams.Down.

4. In the TowerWill we ever be free?Will we be, will we be free?Will we ever be, ever be free?Will we ever be, ever be, ever be free?Will we be, will we be, will we be free? Free.

5. BirdsSwallow and swift the seagulls crying,round and around our tower flying.Fluttering and ying like paper kites,down to the shore and up to the heights.I love the birds looping the loop,through the sky with a dive and a swoop.Looping the loop I love the birds swooping and flying,Swooping and flying around me, I love the birdsWith a dive and a swoop,I love the birds looping the loop,I love the birds.Looping the loop I love the birdsLooping the loop I love the birds

6. If I Had WingsIf I had wings we could fly.If we had wings we could reach the sky.If we had wings we don’t have to stay.If we had wings we could fly far away.We’d reach the sky if I had wings.Where will they take us, I cannot know.All we can do is choose to go.If we had wings we could reach, if we had wings.If we had wings we could reach the sky.If we had wings we could fly far away and reach the sky,if I had wings, if I had wingsIf we had wings, if we had wings.

7. Feathers and waxFeathers and wax, wax and feathers,Fly up high in any kinda weather,Fly in the sky, fly up high,We know where, know where we’re gonna fly.

8. The ledgeFlying, flying, flying, flying,Icarus flying, flying, Icarus, flying,Where will they take us, I cannot know.All we can do is choose to go.Don’t fly near the burning sun,Icarus don’t fly too near the sun,Don’t fly high near the burning sun,

9. InvincibleI’m free and alive and high in the air,I’m free to do anything, go anywhere.This is the best there has ever been,I can see everything that’s ever been seen.I can do anything, anything, I can do it all.I can do anything, anything, I’m invincible.I am invincible, invincible.Down here below the whole world is small.I rule over all of it, I see it all.I am Icarus and I can fly.Invincible, invincible, invincible, invincibleinvincible, invincible, invincible, invincibleI am Icarus and I can fly.

10. Higher and higherThe burning sun, the burning sun, feel the heat of the sunHigher and higher and higher and higherBurning. Burning. Burning. Burning.Down, down, Icarus

11. EpilogueWho do you blame? Minos, Daedalus or Icarus? You!Me?YOU TOLD THE STORY

12. Invincible (reprise)

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